Igiehon addition keeps GCU strong

Aidan Igiehon is a muscular big man who was seeking more opportunity to bring out his basketball upside.

"Irish Hulk," meet "Great Dane."

Igiehon, a buff 6-foot-10, 245-pound Irishman, is transferring from Louisville to Grand Canyon, where he saw what the Lopes staff did to take Denmark 7-footer Asbjørn Midtgaard from lightly used Wichita State reserve center to All-WAC first team and national field goal percentage leader.

Igiehon joins GCU with three years of eligibility after only playing 102 minutes in two injury-plagued years at Louisville. At just 20, he has plenty of untapped upside after being ranked as a four-star recruit and among three recruiting services' national top 55 out of high school in Brooklyn, New York.

"I saw that that his (Midtgaard's) development was off the charts, averaging 14 (points) and 10 (rebounds) from just averaging three (points) at his last school," Igiehon said. "Obviously, he was given the opportunity. But, obviously, you could tell that he got better. A guy like me that's coming up, you have to look into that factor."

Igiehon is a different type of physical presence, bringing athleticism with strength and a developing face-up shot that Drew has watched in offseason video.

"Aidan is a player I have seen since he was in high school," Drew said of Igiehon, who moved from Dublin to New York at age 13. "I have always loved the energy and presence he brings to the court. His best basketball is ahead of him and we look forward to getting him on campus and getting started."

Igiehon is so anxious to join GCU that he is moving to Phoenix this month. As much as he already believes in his ability to impact the Lopes, he knows he has far to come after switching from soccer to basketball at age 12, growing 1 foot in a year and making 18 appearances in two Louisville seasons.

After his freshman season ended because of a shoulder injury, Igiehon played only the first four games last season before suffering a groin injury and illness. He said he now feels healthier than ever.

"I'm just scratching the surface," Igiehon said. "I'm sure a lot of kids who are talented sometimes think this: but any time I play basketball, I surprise myself. I figure out things that I didn't know I can do. I know I can do so much more when given the opportunity and the attention that my game needs to grow."

Igiehon has shown the footwork to be a defender who can switch onto perimeter players, but he also posseses the strength to handle post players. Despite massive upper body power, Igiehon did not lift weights until college. It was all push-ups, pull-ups and calisthenics until then.

His family's faith was a major draw to a GCU, a Christian university. Without the ability to have a campus visit, Igiehon based much of his transfer choice on the relationships he built with Drew and assistant coaches Ed Schilling, Casey Shaw and Jamall Walker.

"I just clicked with them and I trusted them," Igiehon said. "For me, trust was the biggest factor. I loved their style of play. I loved their ability to develop guys like me too. I shared what I want for my future and I trust that they're the best people to help me get there."

Igiehon's Irish accent is now hardly detectable, an intentional move after feeling like an outsider when he arrived in Brooklyn to live with an aunt and an uncle at age 13. He is ready for the next transition – in collegiate locale and production level.

"I'm ready to work," Igiehon said. "I'm ready to give my heart and soul into this program and get us where we're supposed to be – and that's on top."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Asbjørn Midtgaard

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